Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Ben Kueter has been named as the Midwest Region winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. The award is presented by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Kueter is in the outstanding Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.
Kueter was named for the DSHSEA in the Midwest Region of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The national winner will be chosen from the five regional winners that will be announced on May 3.
The DSHSEA recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.
Winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: success and standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank, academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment to character and community.
From teamusa.org:
Ben Kueter of Iowa City, Iowa was an undefeated four-time Iowa state champion for City High School. He became Iowa’s 32nd four-time state wrestling champion, and the seventh Iowa wrestler to finish with a perfect record, compiling a 111-0 career record. The son of Scott and Tina Kueter, he will wrestle and play football at the University of Iowa. Of his 111 high school wins, he recorded bonus points in 94 of them with 74 pins, 15 technical falls, and five major decisions. He won a gold medal at the 2022 Junior World Championships and was a national champion in folkstyle and a national runner-up in freestyle in 2021.
Kueter was named the 2023 recipient of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s Bob Steenlage Iowa High School Wrestler of the Year award, and was named was also named the Dan Gable Wrestler of the Year by Fareway Stores, Inc. in coordination with the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association in 2022 and 2023. He was invited to and competed in the Under Armour All-American Bowl in football and was also a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award, presented annually to the top high school linebacker in the nation. Kueter volunteered to read at local elementary and junior high schools and was a member of the National Honor Society all four years.
This prestigious award is named after Olympic and World champion Dave Schultz. A true legend in the history of our great sport.
Kueter will be competing at the Senior U.S. Open on Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas.
In my opinion Ben Kueter is the best athlete in the history of Iowa high school sports.
Congratulations Ben Kueter for receiving this great honor.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
